TRAGEDY DURING KINGSTON CELEBRATION

It wasn’t the best scene to approach Tuesday afternoon, but I happened upon the recovery of a man found on Delaware avenue, who fell down the forgotten train tracks below.

Fire Trucks, police officers and a coroner. Never a good sign.

Identified as Billy Joe Mack, from Pt Ewen; Mack fell down the secluded drop onto the track below when he was seperated from family and friends observing the fireworks on the 9W overpass.

There’s something that affects you personally when you witness the retrieval of someone’s loved one from a sad demise.

Sure I took a few pictures, but to see the many crews working together, taking such care of the deceased and securing the site, it brings you back to reality. Frankly, our mortality. Anything can happen at any time. We tend to forget that while we carry on our lives.

Det Tim Matthews told the Freeman: "We believe it was accidental, there’s no sign of foul play”

The missing-person report about Mack came in around 2:30 am .Monday at the Highland State barracks and they informed the Kingston Department shortly after.

The Mayors Task force did a terrific job in the aftermath of the discovery, More will be done on both sides of the intersection to trim and remove brush that hides safety issues.

My sympathy goes out to the Mack family for their loss.

SPRING CLEANING AT THE TUNNEL

This is the Train Tunnel under Delaware Avenue. The Channel that leads to the tunnel, skates along the back of properties along Hasbrouck and Delaware avenues.
What you see here, is the result of years of dumping. In a city that collects trash weekly at their curb, I don’t get it.

For several years, I have teamed up with the Woodstock Day School volunteers and occasionally solo in an effort to clean up this mess. The task is

huge, and no city department has laid claim to the responsibility of cleaning it up. So I make my pilgrimage a few times a year and fight the rising tide of trash.

What can I do? Plenty of trash is new, since my visit last fall. Our Trash Enforcer Larry Bergati had issued an edict to stop dumping on the tracks last summer, but here it is.

I have asked the Trolley Museum to ramp up their Grant Applications in the past to consider extending the line and help clean, but have heard nothing for years. Catskill Mt RR promissed the Mayor a trash collector rail car last summer…that never happened.

So, I would like to know if anyone would like to join me this year to help clean up this mess, a joint effort of local citizens who know the value of a clean city. You will need water proof boots, gloves, and a

strong back. There are 100 tires, enough recyclables to keep RECYCLEBANK busy and trash enough to fill eight city trucks.

Clear your weekends and lets make this happen.